The pictures were not with the original reports but have been added for these pages.
January, 1900
IRISH WOLFHOUNDS
Another year has come and gone, and we are able to look back on the departed
year with a certain amount of satisfaction, in feeling that the Irish Wolfhound
has shown steady progress, and appears to be a step nearer in re-establishing
itself as "the king of dogs". With regard to the year under
consideration, we have seen a fair number of new faces on the bench, some of
which have been sufficiently good to make the best of the older ones look to
their laurels. Probably the best of the youngsters are Feargus, Dathy, Conaire,
and Osric in dogs; Artara, Sportella, Stateleigh Morna, and Stateleigh Runa, in
bitches. The best of the older ones are Wargrave, O'Leary, Dermot Astore,
Cathbarr, and Kenmare, in dogs; Pomona, Daireen, Agala, Roseen Ruaidh, and
Gra-ma-Chree, in bitches.
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| Artara | Sportella |
The best collection of Irish Wolfhounds ever seen were undoubtedly those
mustered at the Wolf, Deer, and Boar Hound Show, held on June 6 and 7, in the
lovely grounds of the Ranelagh Club, when the only noticeable absentee in
exhibitors was Mrs. Williams. The weather was all that could be desired, the
lovely grounds looking at their best, Captain Graham officiating, he being the
subject of general congratulations on his recovery from his recent accident. Of
course his decisions were watched with more than usual interest, exhibitors
realising that their dogs were facing the greatest authority on the breed, and
the total entry of eighty-one must have been a matter of great satisfaction to
Capt. Graham, he having taken such an interest and shown such zeal in the
resuscitation of this grand breed.
In Open Dogs, Mr. Crisp's O'Leary secured first and championship; shown in
excellent form, and is still the most typical hound we have. Second went to the
Hon. Miss Dillon's Cathbarr, a fine upstanding hound, with excellent coat.
Third, Mr. Crisp's Kenmare, is another grand specimen, rather short of coat,
and would be improved with more bone. Bally Hooley, reserve, is a good one.
Goth II, vhc, is an immense hound, but somewhat lacking in the adopted type.
Feargus, vhc; a youngster of fourteen months, a trifle weak in head, otherwise
of great promise. Brian II is a fine specimen, though somewhat faulty in front.
Limit Dogs - First, second, third, a repetition; Rory O'More and Rasselas,vhcs,
both fair ones. Novice Dogs - First, Feargus; Second, Marquis of Donegal, a
nice one; third, Tyrone, soft in coat; vhc, Larry Dugan; of good type but
lacking in height.
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| Ch. O'Leary | Brian II |
Open Bitches brought out a wonderful lot, and I am sure that Capt. Graham had no easy task in deciding his awards, first and championship ultimately going to Mr. Crisp's well-known Pomona, who is certainly following in the steps of her dam, Princess Oona, in sweeping the board. She is a beautiful bitch, built on racing lines, a perfect mover, with long narrow head, rather short of coat. Mr. Townshend's Roseen Rhuaidh made her debut, winning second prize; she is a very nice one, with splendid coat, and a good mover, head rather short. Third, Mrs. Birtill's Daireen, a nice all-round one, and must have pressed the second very hard. Other good ones were Gra-Ma-Chree, Sportella, Stateleigh Runa, Stateleigh Morna, and Felixstowe Mavourneen. In Limit, Novice, and Maiden Classes, Pomona and Roseen Rhuaidh shared the honours, there being nothing fresh of particular merit.
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| Ch. Pomona | Princess Oona |
The Kennel Club Show at Crystal Palace, under Mr. Singer, brought a total of thirty-two entries, and in Open Dogs the competition for premier honours was a great tussle, lying between such well-known winners as Wargrave, O'Leary, and Dermot Astore, resulting in the judge placing them in the order written. Possibly there are some judges who would have reversed the first and second, and doubtless O'Leary's unfortunate nervous affection seriously prejudiced his chances. Wargrave never looked better, being shown in perfect condition; he is a fine hound, probably one of the tallest we have. O'Leary hardly looked so well as in the spring at Ranelagh. Dermot Astore, like his kennel mate, Wargrave, was shown in excellent form. Others in this class were Feargus, reserve, who has hardly grown on as I anticipated after seeing him in the spring; he is of fair size, and good coat, but rather weak in head, an excellent mover. Limit Dogs - First and second a repetition, third going to Loris, a fine hound, but lacking in coat and an ugly mover.
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| Ch. Wargrave | Dermot Astore |
Open Bitches - A class of eight without a bad one. First, Pomona, reviewed
at Ranelagh. Second, Artara, a beautiful nine-and-a-half months' puppy, bred
and exhibited by Miss Pope, and good enough to have won. Third, Sportella,
rather heavy in ear, otherwise a very good one. Others seen at Ranelagh, except
Laragh, who, being the dam of Artara, will doubtless be of great service to her
enthusiastic owner, Mrs. Williams, who, I am told, purchased Artara after the
show. I thought Roseen Rhuaidh and Gra-Ma-Chree might have been higher. Limit
Bitches - A repetition. Novice Class - First, Dathy, a fine upstanding hound,
short of coat, and a trifle plain in head. Second, Artara, who might well have
been first. Third, Osric, a good all-round one, of correct type, will do better
when shown in condition; of a somewhat rare colour - black and tan, which I
must confess is much to my liking, though I noticed some reports took exception
to the colour. Mrs. Williams won the valuable Challenge Shield for the best dog
or bitch in the show, and also the Graham-Crisp Cup; Mr. Crisp's Pomona taking
the new Silver Bowl for the best of opposite sex.
Many other shows have been held with classes for the breed, the most important
of which are Crufts, Brighton, and Birmingham, where the Ranelagh and Kennel
Club winners were well to the fore. It is of interest to note that recently
some Irish Wolfhounds have been sent to Russia to compete against native hounds
in the chase and killing of wolves, and although I have not yet heard the
result of this interesting competition, I have no doubt that the present Irish
Hounds, if properly selected, will render an excellent account of themselves,
although possibly at the onset they may now show some reluctance in entering
into the spirit of the contest.
Stud Dogs - Wargrave has earned a reputation for himself as being the sire of
Artara, reviewed at the Kennel Club Show, and I believe there are several other
youngsters of great promise by this same sire, and as I hear O'Leary has also
proved himself capable of siring excellent stock, there should be no question
as to the future prosperity of the breed. In conclusion, and as Hon. Secretary
and Treasurer of the Irish Wolfhound Club, I have pleasure in stating that the
Club continues to flourish, each year bringing forth fresh admirers of the
breed, who are speedily enrolled as members of the Club.
WALTER ALLEN
January, 1902
IRISH WOLFHOUNDS
The first year of the 20th century has been a distinctly successful one for
Irish Wolfhounds, and the breed has made a great advance in public favour.
Cruft's Show was well supported and brought out several promising youngsters;
the summer Shows did not produce such well-filled benches, but the Kennel Club
Show at the Crystal Palace was pronounced by experts the best exhibition of
Irish Wolfhounds ever brought together. Mr. Crisp's O'Leary has not faced the
judges during the past year, and left the road clear for Mrs. Williams's Team
of Champions. This clever lady remains facile princeps with Dermot
Astore, Wargrave, and Artara, the latter decidedly the best bitch in the breed.
Dermot is passing into the sere and yellow leaf, and the verdict that gave him
the Challenge Shield at the Palace was wrong. Wargrave continues to wear well,
and for attention, show-form, and keepering these three notable dogs would be
hard to beat by any kennel in the Kingdom.
Cruft's was a triumph for Mr. Walter Williams, of Surbiton, whose Ballyhooly
(litter brother to Wargrave) won his first Championship, whilst Daireen,
another of the same wonderful litter, obtained the coveted honour in the
Bitches Class. At Harrogate Mrs. Marshall's Mike was fortunate in obtaining a
similar distinction. Across the water Mr. Martin's Champion Marquis of Donegal
has carried all before him, and bears a superb reputation in Ireland, being a
hound of uncommon size. Now that the quarantine restrictions are removed, he
will have a chance of gaining further honours, and meeting many rivals who are
anxious to try a throw with him. No better opportunity than Cruft's could be
presented for his debut in England, and we are glad to hear that, bar
accidents, Mr. Martin will bring his team to the Agricultural Hall in February.
Death has carried off that fine old bitch Champion Pomona, who died of
pneumonia in the early part of the year. Although she always threw small
litters, she does not appear to have left any striking progeny behind her. Some
promising young hounds have also gone before due date, whilst the mortality
amongst whelps has been devastating. Champion Artara whelped 14 pups to Dermot
Astore, and we believe we are correct in saying there is not one alive. From
kennels all over England and Ireland the same cry reaches us of the
extraordinary difficulty in rearing these hounds, certainly up to the age of
four months; and to save half a litter appears to be a feat. Mrs. Gerard, of
Malpas, is undoubtedly the most successful breeder, and her bitch Cheevra, dam
of Champions Marquis of Donegal and Sportella, is a brood bitch of unusual
merit.
Turning now to the Novices that have come forward, there is a pleasing tale to
tell. Mrs. Williams has brought out Thady O'Flynn, an O'Leary pup of remarkable
size and good shaggy coat, but weakish in his hindquarters. Mrs. Gerard's
contribution has been Rajah of Kidnal, another O'Leary pup, with perhaps the
best shaped body in the breed; but here again there is not perfection in
hindquarters. And in conjunction we may observe that this is the tender point
in the Irish Wolfhound of today, and much as we admire O'Leary, we cannot but
express a fear that noble sire has not been an unmixed blessing. That he
suffers from chorea is public news - and, alas! in our immediate knowledge not
a few of his progeny do, too. Quite the best and soundest O'Leary hound shown
was Kilcullen, who was strangely overlooked at the Palace by a judge who did
not seem enraptured with the O'Leary type. This young dog has passed into the
hands of Major Shewell, and may rival the career of his father. The competitor
with whom he will probably have the sternest fight is Wolfe Tone, a Wargrave
dog, bred by Mrs. Compton, and one that will take a lot of beating. He is a
gigantic and remarkably handsome black, with brindle shadings, and as he was
only 17 months old at the end of the year he has plenty of time to furnish to
his enormous height.
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| Rajah of Kidnal | Wolfe Tone |
In Novice Bitches Mrs. Gerard scored highest honours at the Palace with Biddy of Kidnal, a bitch that has improved wonderfully, but scarcely up to the high level to which she was elevated in October at the expense of such grand bitches as Felixstowe Emo and Tynagh, not to mention Juno of the Fen, litter sister to Wolfe Tone, and a 32 ½ in. bitch, but weak in her hocks, probably from being over-exercised. Two other good O'Leary bitches were Wolfe Witch and Molly Malone. For the rest, a word of praise may be spared for Wolfe O'Brien, who has the hocks and general appearance of soundness that are a little wanting in the breed, deriving them probably from the very excellent Brian II-cum-Cheevra blend; and for St. Canice, a litter brother to Kilcullen.
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Biddy of Kidnal |
Taking it altogether, 1901 will be a year to remember in Irish Wolfhound
circles as having introduced a remarkably fine lot of young hounds, and shown a
distinct improvement in the breed. The Irish Wolfhound Club has burst into
unwonted activity during the last year. There is probably no Canine Club in
such easy, not to say affluent, circumstances as this institution, which can
boast of a reserve fund of £100. During the last half-year it gave or
guaranteed prizes (exclusive of its valuable Challenge Cups) amounting to
nearly £50. But "pots" and pounds, encouraging as they are, do
not compose the whole duty of a Dog Club. And in this particular breed the time
has come when "a ruling judgement" is wanted. That is to say
"type" should be laid down more minutely than at present exists
between the two rival schools. Briefly speaking, there is a Brian II school and
an O'Leary school; and although the bulk of the fanciers admire the latter, it
is a strange fact that of the six full Champions, five belong to the Brian II
strain. And yet few will deny that O'Leary is the most typical hound in the
breed. The "points" laid down in the Club's Standard should be
"valued". The divergencies of type in this grand breed are a standing
reproach, although one that is being remedied, and we throw out the suggestion
that at some suitable show - the Palace for choice - a trio of judges, under
the presidentship of Captain G.A. Graham, the re-creator of the breed, should
adjudicate by points, awarding the appropriate value to each, and establishing
the same, so that breeders may breed for what is lacking in their particular
kennels, and not for what their personal taste dictates. From the present
generation of young hounds any required type can be evolved by judicious
mating.
But what are the most important points? That is a question no one can
authoritatively answer. A breeder has suggested the following scale to us as
something to "wrangle over":
We shall be glad to see this suggestion have attention.
HERBERT COMPTON
March, 1913
The year 1912 has been full of interest as regards this breed,
which is undoubtedly making steady progress. It may possibly be true that, as
an excellent judge recently remarked to me, we have no present day hounds to
equal Cotswold or Gareth (it certainly is true as regards the former; as
regards the latter I am more doubtful), but the average is unquestionably much
higher than it was five years ago, when Cotswold 1, Gareth 2, and Aughrim or
Wickham Lavengro 3, used to be a recurring feature at almost every Show, and
scarcely another dog of any particular importance was benched. Nowadays we have
a variety of good hounds, who beat and are beaten by each other; and in the
matter of size, especially, the advance is most noticeable. Formerly a clear 34
inch dog was something of a phenomenon; now he is comparatively common; there
are two or three 35 inch specimens about, while one giant stands 37 inches at
shoulder, and another (now, unfortunately, dead), 37 ½. And, it must be
remembered, that the question of size has for Irish Wolfhounds an importance
perhaps greater than it possesses for any other variety, since the object of
the present day breeder may be supposed to be to produce a hound calculated in
every respect to rival the Irish Wolfdog of the past, whose most undisputed
characteristic was undoubtedly his enormous size. If, therefore, in attaining
this ideal we sometimes have to make a little sacrifice of other desirable
qualities - well we must hope that this sacrifice will be only temporary and
that a little later on the jettisoned qualities will be found superadded to the
great size. By this it is not, of course, meant that in the opinion of the
writer, a huge brute, possessing neither type, quality, nor soundness should be
put over a good moderate sized dog; merely that when we come across a
tremendously big hound, thoroughly good on the whole, but with a few
comparatively minor faults, these faults should be regarded with a lenient eye,
and he should be preferred to a smaller animal possessing fewer faults,
perhaps, but fewer merits also. It is so much more difficult to breed a good
big one than a good little one; and when the good big one does come along he
should be well rewarded.
In the matter of soundness, too, the breed is undoubtedly improving, and Major
Shewell tells me that when he was judging at the last Kennel Club Show, there
was practically not an unsound hound brought into the ring.
I will conclude this introductory part of my subject by congratulating the
Irish Wolfhound Club on being, like the breed, in a thoroughly healthy state
and on possessing upward of forty members. The policy of supporting an
increased number of Shows has not unfortunately met with all the success that
could be hoped, but the principle is sound enough (ways and means permitting),
as it serves as missionary work to extend the knowledge of the breed, and is
bound to produce good results, though they may not be immediately apparent.
To come now to the specific doings of the year:- There were thirteen
championship Shows, at which classes were provided for the breed, and the
challenge certificates were distributed as follows: Dogs: Champion Felixstowe
Kilronan (5); Champion Felixstowe Gelert (4); Champion Felixstowe Gweebarra
(2); Ivo Dennis and Lindley Hector, one each. Bitches: Champion Ivo Dinah (6);
and (in order of date) Chalfont Garetha, Lindley Lupin, Chevet Cassidy,
Felixstowe Kilrush, Ivo Ethna, and Creoda, one each. The first thing to strike
one is the prominent position played by the prefix "Felixstowe" in
these records, and Mr. I.W. Everett is to be congratulated upon the success of
his two hounds, Gelert and Gweebarra, and (to a certain extent at any rate) of
Kilronan and Kilrush, who at one time were inmates of his kennel, though in the
case of the former it is true that this time was several years ago.
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| Felixstowe Gelert | Felixstowe Gweebarra |
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Felixstowe Kilrush |
To take the dogs individually, Kilronan began the year
splendidly, but latterly has not been so fortunate, his chief fault, weakness
of hindquarters, becoming unhappily intensified. He is, however, in my opinion,
still the most typical Irish Wolfhound of the day, and it is to be hoped that
he will regain his strength and do a lot more winning yet. Gelert was the most
successful young dog of the year; not so tall nor so good in front as his sire
Gweebarra, he beats him in type, quality, coat and head - in fact, in almost
every other respect. Gweebarra, while a dog of immense size and substance, and
wonderfully sound for his size, lacked somewhat in quality; there was more of
the carthorse than the racehorse about him. Dennis, though quite a good dog, is
distinguished more by absence of fault than possession of superlative merit.
Hector, probably the tallest dog now alive, combines quality with great size,
and might, perhaps, have enjoyed a little more good fortune; his hindquarters
are his worst point, and a little more substance would not be amiss, though
this sounds a strange thing to say of a hound weighing 150 pounds.
Of the bitches, Dinah, good though she undoubtedly is, is not perhaps so
superior to the rest of her sex as the number of her wins (she was unbeaten
save by Chalfont Garetha at Cruft's) would seem to indicate. She is tall,
sound, and with plenty of substance (a little too much of this latter,
perhaps), but a trifle too Daney in head and general type. Chalfont Garetha
possesses excellent type, size, head, and coat; she could do with more
substance and better hindquarters. Lindley Lupin, I considered on the first
occasion I came across her, about the most beautiful bitch I had seen in my
life; since then she has had a severe illness and has lost something of the
wonderful bloom and freshness she then possessed, besides being a trifle weak
behind. She is still, however, a very fine bitch, with excellent size, type,
and quality. Chevet Cassidy, one of the useful old fashioned sort, is perhaps a
little fortunate to find herself in this company. No one, however, will grudge
Mr. Corcoran his win. Kilrush is, unfortunately, a little out at elbows; bar
this fault she is at the present time, all things considered, about the best
bitch now before the public. She has type, size, quality, and strikes the happy
mean as regards substance. Heavier than most bitches, she is yet not too heavy,
and conveys the impression of grace as well as strength. Ethna owns a terribly
light eye; apart from this she is a beautiful bitch, possessing type, size, and
a lovely head, and if she furnishes satisfactorily there will be little to beat
her. Creoda is tall, sound and active, a trifle lacking in substance and that
important, but indefinable, attribute - true Wolfhound character.
Of the older hounds not mentioned above, King Offa, Lindley Biddy (a none too
lucky bitch) and Cathleen Bawn (very little seen of late) are the best known.
Of the younger ones making their first appearance during the year, the most
successful among the dogs were Gelert, Hector, Pat O'Links (a fine young hound,
now unfortunately dead), Michael O'Brien (somewhat resembling his brother
Gelert, but not quite so big and inferior in head), Ivo Shane (compact, well
balanced, full of quality and with hardly a fault, but, unfortunately, just
lacking in that little extra size which might enable him to beat them all), and
Gavin of Brearwood (after Shane's pattern, but not quite so good maybe). Among
the young bitches were Kilrush, Ethna, Ivo Doris, Ivo Feldath and Lady
Lomberdale (the three latter sound and straight, but otherwise little more than
moderate).
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Pat O'Links |
The most successful kennels were those of Mrs. Trethewy, with
Felixstowe Kilronan; Mr. I.W. Everett (prefix "Felixstowe") with
Gelert and Gweebarra; Mr. T. Hamilton Adams (prefix "Ivo") with
Dinah, Dennis, Ethna and Shane; Dr. H.R. Fisher (prefix "Lindley")
with Lupin and Hector; Mr. J. McKelvie with Felixstowe Kilrush, and Mr. H.
Pemberton with King Offa and Creoda. Major P.G. Shewell, whose famous
"Cotswold" kennels practically dominated the bench for many years,
was, unfortunately, no longer found among the ranks of exhibitors, his
surviving hounds having been transferred to Mrs. Trethewy, but there is reason
to hope that in the near future his kennel will be re-established, and the
Cotswold glories revived.
Among the newcomers were, in addition to Mr. McKelvie, Miss H. Stark (of Great
Dane fame) and Mr. and Mrs. H.L. Crisp, and they all enjoyed a considerable
measure of success. Mrs. E.M. Tudor (also a newcomer) showed a bitch named
Rhona at Shrewsbury; I did not see this bitch myself, but am told great things
of her and that on excellent authority.
Although Kilronan won the stud dog cup at the Kennel Club Show, Gweebarra, who
was unable to compete owing to his having been exported to California, was
probably the most successful sire of the year. Enjoying plenty of
opportunities, he sired, amongst others, such good hounds as Gelert, Kilrush,
Michael O'Brien and Gavin of Brearwood, and from this point of view he is a
distinct loss to the breed. With far fewer chances Silver King and Ivo O'Neill
also acquitted themselves well. Mr. Pemberton's famous brood bitch, Frona,
again accounted for the brood bitch cup; nothing wonderful in herself, she has
certainly produced more good hounds than any other bitch of recent years.
Perhaps I may be pardoned a little pride in the litter by Ivo O'Neill out of my
own bitch, Chalfont Garetha, whom I leased to Mr. Hamilton Adams on breeding
terms. Four of these appeared at the recent Kennel Club Show; three, Shane,
Ethna and Feldath, did well, while Shane and Ethna accounted for the type cups
for their respective sexes.
The obituary list is a fairly long one, and contains the name of the most
famous dog in the whole annals of Irish Wolfdogdom - the great Champion
Cotswold. Born in 1902, he died in late 1911 at a ripe old age, unbeaten in his
breed, and the winner of 23 championships. Not extraordinarily tall as dogs go
nowadays (he stood 34 ¼ at the shoulder) he was as perfectly proportioned
a hound as one could wish to see, and from the tip of his tail to the little
tuft of wheaten hair on the top of his head, he was a pleasure to look at.
Type, size and quality - he possessed them all most beautifully blended. The
late Captain Graham described him as "my ideal of a Wolfhound", and
one cannot do better than leave it at that. He is now, I believe, in the
Natural History Museum at South Kensington - a fitting resting place for a
great dog. His former kennel companion, Champion Cotswold Patricia, survived
him by only about a year, dying in December, 1912, an inmate of Mrs. Trethewy's
kennels. Though not possessed of such extraordinary merit as the dog, she was a
thoroughly good bitch, standing about 31 ½ inches at shoulder, wonderfully
sound and active, with a capital coat and plenty of substance, but rather a
short head. She was the holder of about a dozen challenge certificates, and
with Cotswold a few years back formed an almost invincible pair.
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| Ch. Cotswold | Ch. Cotswold Patricia |
Mr. J.F. Baily's Leinster was another good dog to die in late 1911, the winner of two challenge certificates. He was a tall powerful hound, and has left a big mark on the breed, through his two famous litters out of Lufra Rhu, which included Silver King and Gweebarra and made him the grandsire of many good present day show specimens.
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| Ch. Leinster | Silver King |
Yet another to die about the same time was Mr. C.E. Palmer's Donegal, a hound to whom that much abused adjective "sensational" can safely be applied. He was the most striking looking dog of any breed I have ever seen in my life; wherever he appeared he was sure to collect a crowd around him. To begin with he stood 37 ½ inches at the shoulder - a real 37 ½ inches without exaggeration. Then he owned a magnificent head, and his type generally was excellent. Of course he was not without faults; but even if his pasterns were unusually long and his shoulders set unusually straight, and (more serious still) his back rather razor-like and his hindquarters weakish owing to his having outgrown his strength (he was only 18 months when he died), yet one can but feel that here was a case where, in consideration of the unusual merits, more leniency might perhaps have been show to the faults. Let the credit of producing this wonderful dog (and wonderful he certainly was whatever else he may have been) be ascribed to Aughrim and Hibernia. Other Wolfhounds dying in 1912 were Pat O'Links (already referred to) and Thomond, a nice young hound, who did well at Cruft's.
F.H. PURCHASE
February, 1914
In looking back through 1913 and comparing the hounds old and
young then showing with those of similar ages about six or seven years ago, I
think we have reasons to congratulate ourselves, although the improvement has
been very gradual yet certain. Type distinctly (in my opinion) is more uniform,
size has increased, soundness of limbs very much more pronounced; in fact, it
is unusual to see animals on the benches to-day like the majority of them used
to be a few years back in this respect. Size of bone has greatly increased,
coats are much better. Eyes are not improved; I refer as much to expression as
to shade of eye. There have been many hounds on the benches in the past with
just that lovely expression - gentle, clever, faithful, benevolent, thoughtful.
Perhaps if I mention a few hounds which I and doubtless a great many of my
fellow fanciers will remember, will illustrate my meaning better than words.
Red Fawn dog, Kenmare, bred and exhibited by the late Mr. G.E. Crisp; Champion
Daireen, shown by Mr. W.W. Williams; Champion Artara, dark brindle, was bred by
Miss Pope and exhibited by Mrs. Laura Williams; Bran, 839A, dark brindle, bred
by Earl Caledon and exhibited by the late Mr. G.E. Crisp; Juno of the Fens,
shown by that good sportsman, Dr. Pitts Tucker; another beautiful headed one,
Artara Asthore; Champion Felixstowe Emo, bred by Mr. Walter Allen, one of our
oldest Irish Wolfhound fanciers; Daphne of Kidnal, red fawn, bred by Mr. A.
Gerard, another of the "Old Brigade"; Champion Dhudesia, I believe
litter sister to Leinster (by the by) a comparative lost dog to the fancy, he
should have been much more used in his young time.
A very important thing is that we must not lose sight of the fact that the
Irish Wolfhound is not just a coarse Deerhound. Although there is, of course, a
lot of similarity between the two breeds, yet in taking a good specimen of each
and comparing them there is a very wide difference in shape, size and style.
During the past year we have had a few promising new faces appear. At
Birmingham 1913 there were some very nice hounds, comparatively fresh ones.
Gavin of Breawood, Michael O'Brien, Lindley Major, all good hounds, and a few
years back would have very quickly got their title Champion, but now, with more
and better dogs than of old, it is very much harder to win. Birmingham, 1913,
Lindley Wendy was about the tallest bitch out for years, should be invaluable
for breeding, but the Americans "know some" and they have got her.
As time is pressing I have no opportunity of turning up notes of Crufts and
Manchester, 1913. Irish Kennel Club, Dublin. In Ireland there must be some
useful blood if mated judiciously and well reared, judging by some of the
hounds on the benches, to mention a few with several good points about them:
Muchlagh and Teigue belong to the O'Mahony - most useful sorts; Seaghan
Boroihme, also Conn, who should be most useful at stud, being a long, strong,
although not very tall dog. The only Irish-owned bitch benched (belonging to
our very greatly respected "Elder Brother" and Hon. Secretary, Mr.
F.F. Baily), Cruagh, a very useful sort for maternal duties. The Ladies' Kennel
Association's Show saw one new face at least in a red fawn dog, Andy, bred and
exhibited by Mr. Pemberton, only a year old, and on the day promised to make an
unusually good dog. He has a coat of good texture, and plentiful. This
particular colour invariably has quality and quantity combined of coat. These
named will bear me out: Kenmare, Champion Daireen, Felixstowe Handy Andy,
Champion Lufra Rhu.
Crystal Palace, 1913, I have no notes before me of the show, but from memory I
think there were four new faces: a very tall young dog in Hindhead John, who
had a good outing only finishing 2nd to Champion Felixstowe Gelert. J.J. is
about a year old, and is very tall and straight on the leg, and when furnished
and let down should be a great credit to his breeder and owner, Mr. H.L. Crisp
of Hindhead. Some very encouraging news from Mr. Jas. McKelvie, of Hatton,
Kirknewton, Midlothian, who has a remarkable litter to come out. This litter
are Champion Lindley Hector and Champion Felixstowe Kilrush bred. I shall be
greatly surprised if these youngsters do not create a great sensation, as they
are, I hear, huge, sound, typical youngsters. I think prospects of this breed
have never been so bright.
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Hindhead John |
Major P.G. Shewell, of Cotswold fame, has again taken up the
breed in earnest. Having secured a nucleus of the new kennel in Champion
Felixstowe Gelert, Champion Lindley Lupin, and Champion Lindley Hector, this
latter dog is the tallest, I believe, on record, as I have measured him with a
standard and found him to measure a full 37 inches at shoulder. With such blood
it can be but a short time ere winners of shields, cups, etc. in these kennels
will have attached to their names in catalogues "breeder exhibitor",
and, to my mind, those two words are "it".
I would like to say a few words to new fanciers in this breed. Many of you have
the very finest opportunities for growing good hounds, as there is more variety
in sires now than for past years, also many of the beginners have new kennels
and fresh ground, and this goes much further than many think towards success in
rearing. Never over-crowd, never over-exercise, never over-heat the youngsters
in the kennels, and above all, never worry. Give them plenty of raw lean beef,
oatmeal porridge, brown bread, and raw beef bones, also a few good puppy cakes
dry sometimes, fresh air, clean spring water (if obtainable), using plenty of
patience and kindness, laying them on a dry boarded floor, on a good thick bed
of dry wheat straw, letting the kennels, if possible, face south and on sandy
soil. If these suggestions and common-sense are carried out, there is every
reason to hope and believe that this grand hound will be second to none of the
large varieties in the near future.
I should like to mention that Mr. Thos. Hamilton Adams, of Limpsfield, Surrey,
has not just lately been quite so much before the public with the Ivo hounds,
having taken up with the Sealyhams and that means, as with all he interests
himself in - "success". The Ivo Sealyhams are already a big
proposition to run up against.
We are parting with a lot of our best blood to America, and several that have
been sent out for work have given great satisfaction and good sport. A few of
those gone are Champion Lufra Rhu, Felixstowe Juno, Champion Felixstowe
Gweebarra, Dromore, Lindley Wendy, Blarney, and many whose names I forget.
I purposely have not referred much to the Felixstowe hounds, not wishing it to
appear as getting a cheap advertisement, although at the same time during the
past year I did some winning, had some big priced sales, and finished up by
selling a youngster for £100 to be delivered in a fortnight's time, but he
died instead. If ever my advice can be of any use to fanciers of this grand
hound at any time, I shall be delighted to receive enquiries.
I.W. EVERETT
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Updated 8/30/2015